Cranking from the bank

[SFL BassHunter]

Throwing a crankbait is not one of my go to techniques, but I must admit that it has worked well for me when I do use it. Just this week I went to the park and decided to throw my gold crankbait from Academy. It worked for me on Lake Okeechobee and I figured in the clear water of this park lake a gold shiner color might attract some attention.
Let me rewind for a moment. A couple of weeks ago I threw the BBZ 1 Rat in 30 size for a few hours without a bite, BUT I did manage to get the attention of a school of bass that followed the lure to the bank. I had also seen some other schooling activity going on that was too far for me to cast to. Even though the rat acting as a crank didn't get bit, it clued me in on what might catch me a bass.
Back to this week, I put my spook jr, 2 cranks, and my usual worms in my pouch. But I knew the cranks were going to be my first choice. The gold shiner went on and I made several casts as far as I could. I worked the crank at different speeds, ripped it out of grass (which in the past has gotten strikes) and tried some stop and go retrieves as well.
On the 8th or 9th cast I made a really good long cast and started bringing the crank in. 5-6 turns of the handle and then stop for about 3 seconds letting that crank start to float up and backwards. Then 5-6 more turns and stop. I did this three times on the third stop and one turn of the handle I felt something hit my crank with fury. With no slack on the line I side swept and felt a decent fish on the other end.
Bringing it in the fish jumped and confirmed it wasn't a dink (19 Inches), but I noticed something else. Around it were swirls and a bigger wake than that fish would have made. As I got it closer (clear water and polarized glasses) I was able to see that not only was I bringing in that fish, but a larger one (Probably 22+ inches) was trailing behind it with two other fish the size of the one I caught swimming side by side behind the bigger one.

I tried to turn the fish several times and the school followed. My hope was that the bigger one would try and hit the crank and potentially get hooked too. But it didn't. I brought the fish in and it was well hooked. The school stuck around for a couple seconds and then swam off.
With the FLBR and IBass competition I had to measure my fish. By the time I did that they were gone. I tried for another 45 min, but no more strikes.
I then tried a worm for a while and caught a dink.

The crankbait did it's job though. It got a schooling bass to strike after being clued in on the fact that they are schooling up and something smaller than the rat might actually get a fish to bite.



If you are going to throw a crank from the bank, just keep in mind that you may lose it, as I lost mine later on. I use cheaper cranks and some folks on here pointed me to the H2O Academy cranks which are just fantastic. I haven't lost a fish on them yet, and they have all swam true out the box.
Can't beat that. But whatever crank you choose to try don't be scared to get it right over the grass, or even into the grass. Rip that sucker free and the bass will hit it. Don't be afraid to lose them and that is what has made the difference for me in not catching and catching.

Last but not least, channel your inner KVD! 

So what works for you when throwing a crankbait from the bank?

[merc1997]

nice.

bo

[SteveTX]

Congrats on the 19"er rickdelprado.

I have no problem throwing cranks from shore when I do its almost always a shallow running crank though. Probably the best results for me have come on the Mann's Baby 1-Minus. I just love these in these Texas ponds they are killer.

The Baby Bass Crystaglow has been stellar. Usually a steady retrieve is all I do as I fancast entire areas. Obviously the areas that show extra promise get extra casts. 

A tip if you like using the Mann's Baby 1- using a smaller split ring and or a modified combination on hook size just to keep the hooks from tangling makes for a much better day. I don't remember off the top of my head what hooks I changed mine to but they almost will tangle still but can't. I hate making a great cast and its the one time the hooks fowl. 

[SFL BassHunter]

Congrats on the 19"er rickdelprado.

I have no problem throwing cranks from shore when I do its almost always a shallow running crank though. Probably the best results for me have come on the Mann's Baby 1-Minus. I just love these in these Texas ponds they are killer.

The Baby Bass Crystaglow has been stellar. Usually a steady retrieve is all I do as I fancast entire areas. Obviously the areas that show extra promise get extra casts. 

A tip if you like using the Mann's Baby 1- using a smaller split ring and or a modified combination on hook size just to keep the hooks from tangling makes for a much better day. I don't remember off the top of my head what hooks I changed mine to but they almost will tangle still but can't. I hate making a great cast and its the one time the hooks fowl. 

Steve yeah the cranks I use are normally 2-5 feet. So they are shallow. A deep diver works if you have an instant drop off but that is not the case for the places I fish.

Like you I hate when a cast gets messed up because the hooks merge. I've not had that issue with the ones I have been throwing which is great. The few times the front hook has hooked the Lip I've been able to fix it with a hard jerk while it's in the water. I've then been able to retrieve it normally so it isn't a wasted cast.

Out of curiosity what kind of action do those manns have? Wide wobble or tight? I've found the CRS model of the H2O which I've been using has a wide wobble.

[SteveTX]

Out of curiosity what kind of action do those manns have? Wide wobble or tight? I've found the CRS model of the H2O which I've been using has a wide wobble.

I say its fairly wide. I'm no crank expert but compared to some others its on the wide side. Here is what Mann's says about them.

Description

The Baby 1- from Mann's just may be the most famous crankbait of all-time. A limit producer on the major tournament trails for over 20 years, the Baby 1- is found in literally every professional bass anglers tacklebox. Why? Becuase it is so versatile. No other lure runs with a more pronounced wobble than the Baby 1-. The size is perfect. The action is perfect. If you're looking for a shallow runner then this is the lure of choice. Twitch'em, crank'em, jerk'em. They won't run deeper than 1 foot. Fish them over weedbeds, stump fields, shallow flats, and other lunker holding areas. Thousands of anglers will tell you there is nothing like the 1-Minus series for serious bass fishing. Wide wobbling action, plus rattles.

Shallow water worldwide is home to the One-Minus™ series. From a maximum of 12 inches deep to surface and all inches in-between, there are three different sizes and shapes to suit any fisherman. This is the series that gave Mann's ownership to the top 12 inches of the water and make it the number one super shallow crankbait in the world. Tournament winner for over 20 years.

Length: 2 1/4″
Weight: 1/4oz
source http://mannsbait.com/product/all-lures-and-baits/baby-1-minus/

[Princeton_Man]

Awesome fish Rick!

[SFL BassHunter]

I say its fairly wide. I'm no crank expert but compared to some others its on the wide side. Here is what Mann's says about them.

Ah ok, that's a really shallow crank. Cool!

Thanks for sharing the info!

[Capt. BassinLou]

Thanks for the post Rick. Good pieces of information in there.

[SFL BassHunter]

Thanks Merc and Princeton. It's been a tough month down here. Specifically at that fishing spot. The fish just haven't been active at times I've been there. In fact I have skunked 2 times and damn near skunked a couple other times.

[Lipripper]

Thanks for the report Rick and that's a nice looking fish. Most of the cranks I own are shallow running since I do most of my fishing from the banks but it's been awhile since I've used them.

[basss]

Think you caught as many fish as I did all last year on a crank in just this one outing.

[j102]

Nice report Rick! Very useful information.
I love crankbaits, but sometimes is a pain with the amount of grass we have in some places down here.

[SFL BassHunter]

Nice report Rick! Very useful information.
I love crankbaits, but sometimes is a pain with the amount of grass we have in some places down here.

It is a pain. That is for sure. But that same grass holds the fish lol.

[j102]

It is a pain. That is for sure. But that same grass holds the fish lol.

No risk no reward, right? lol

[SFL BassHunter]

No risk no reward, right? lol

I don't get mad when I lose lures anymore. lol I just know its part of the process. As long as I don't lose it on a tree.

[j102]

I don't get mad when I lose lures anymore. lol I just know its part of the process. As long as I don't lose it on a tree.

Yep, at some point one realizes that is part of the process. But it still hurts! lol

[SteelHorseCowboy]

You bring up the possibility of losing lures, and it reminded me of lure retrievers. Some are pole type, some are simply weights that you loop onto your line and send sliding down into the water to knock your lure loose.
They're not horribly expensive. If I recall correctly they're between $8-$15 or so for the sliding type, the financial investment made in one will pay for itself if it saves just 2-3 lures or so, if those lures average about 5 bucks each.

So I googled some up, and discovered some home made ones on Ebay. This reminded me that I just so happen to have about 60# of lead sitting around somewhere...

I'd pretty well quit using cranks from the bank for the most part, just because of this.

[SFL BassHunter]

You bring up the possibility of losing lures, and it reminded me of lure retrievers. Some are pole type, some are simply weights that you loop onto your line and send sliding down into the water to knock your lure loose.
They're not horribly expensive. If I recall correctly they're between $8-$15 or so for the sliding type, the financial investment made in one will pay for itself if it saves just 2-3 lures or so, if those lures average about 5 bucks each.

So I googled some up, and discovered some home made ones on Ebay. This reminded me that I just so happen to have about 60# of lead sitting around somewhere...

I'd pretty well quit using cranks from the bank for the most part, just because of this.

That's an interesting concept.

[SteelHorseCowboy]

That's an interesting concept.

It's not a new one, I remember seeing a few around as a kid...



Of course there's a chance they'll beat the hell out of your lure...
But when the choice is possibly beat it up, or certainly lose it, I think I'd rather take the chance.

[SteelHorseCowboy]

I good field expedient alternative may be to attach a heavy drop shot to a snap swivel and send it sliding down the line.
Worst case scenario, you lose both. But a drop shot's cheap enough to be worth the chance.

[j102]

The problem is we lose lures to trees and power lines. lol

[SteelHorseCowboy]

Lol, I've managed to stop doing that! When I first got back to fishing this year, I probably left $40 worth of tackle in trees! That's a lot for me! I'll spend 5 minutes debating on whether or not I really need a new $3 lure, walk around a store with it for an hour while browsing, then go put it back right before checking out!
Now if I feel I'm too confined to make the cast, I move on or switch to something that'll hurt a bit less if I lose it.
I'm that guy that doesn't throw away soft plastics. They're too ragged to use when they fly off the hook!

[SteveTX]

 I have one of these Tournament Choice® Lure Retriever $4.99 I couldn't make one for $5 so I bought it one day while I was cruising Academy. That sucker works! I bet I have saved $50 in crankbaits the first year I had it. Would have been more but I forgot I had it several times. It has never not got my lure back. I will say its a royal PITA to use as the cord goes everywhere. You have to be persistent letting it slide down the line and hit the snagged lure sometimes repeatedly. So far I have seen zero line damage from it. I'm not going to say it wont but for me it has been fine. I have tied a empty water bottle to mine so if I drop the cord it will float. Also I now wind the cord on the bottle.   

[FlatsNBay]

Rick is that pond really clear?

[Capt. BassinLou]

Rick is that pond really clear?

Flat's its a limestone lake, its swimming pool clear.